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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. key — in music
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. key — the most important part
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. key — for a lock
  8. can — a tin
  9. wax — to grow
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. toast — bread
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. can — a tin
  15. present — a gift
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. present — there
  18. can — to be able to
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. present — the time now
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. ruler — a monarch

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com